Polysomnographic Technologist Lead

Major Responsibilities:

• Acts as a resource and role model to employees, which includes training/orienting, providing day-to-day work direction, and giving input on performance. Assigns, monitors, and reviews progress and accuracy of work, monitors productivity, maintains appropriate staffing levels, directs efforts and provides guidance on more complex issues.
• Assists with human resource responsibilities, which may include interviewing and selection of new employees, staff development, providing performance feedback, resolution of employee concerns, and employee morale. Assists in interpreting department policies and procedures, and advises and updates staff on procedural changes. Identifies performance improvement opportunities within the department and facilitates change.
• Selects and applies special monitoring electrodes, bands, thermistors, and other monitoring probes to appropriate areas of the patient's body. Prepares positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fittings. Schedules and discusses the test process with patients, ensures their knowledge of the process, and answers their questions. Educates physicians and patients on sleep medicines.
• Follows sleep procedures to establish and document baseline values such as body position, movements, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates. Scores sleep/wake stages and with the generation of accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals, etc.
• Implements appropriate interventions including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure and oxygen administration.
• Performs procedures and therapeutic interventions such as auto servo ventilation (SV) titrations, average volume assured pressure support (AVAPS), multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT), maintenance of wakefulness testing (MWT). Performs polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to recognize and eliminate all artifacts observed during the test.
• Follows wake procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process e.g. repeat the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires. Sets up video and audio monitoring apparatus.
• Prepares and calibrates equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and signals. Keeps the equipment in clean operating condition, detecting instrument malfunctions, making minor adjustments, and reporting the need for major repairs. Monitors equipment supply levels and maintains appropriate equipment at hand.
• Reviews new patient orders and refers questions to the medical director. Enters charges for patient visits and sleep testing.
• Participates in and/or develops quality improvement or cost containment projects, committees, task forces, community event representation/participation, or physician education programs. Promotes and develops sleep programs through meetings, presentations and providing and/or developing resources. Participates in competency development.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA), and
• Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) registration issued by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT), or
• Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) certification issued by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM), or
• Registered Respiratory Therapist-Sleep Disorders Specialty (RRT-SDS) certification issued by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Education Required:

• Advanced training beyond High School that includes the completion of an accredited or approved program.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 5 years of experience in a polysomnographic technician role.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Proficient at sleep study scoring.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and apply policy.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Basic computer skills.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Will drive between sites therefore will be exposed to road hazards.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Incumbent must sit the majority of the workday as well as stand and walk throughout.
• Must be able to:
• lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• lift up to 20 lbs. over the head.
• carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Exposed to mechanical, electrical and chemical hazards and thus protective clothing must be worn as necessary.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.